RODI water

[glooper]

Hello,
I plan to set up my tank this weekend or early next week and I am a little nervous about the water.

Would it be worth it this early on to buy and RODI system? If so is there one that everyone recommends?

My other option is to get pre mixed saltwater from my LFS at $1 per gallon. If I get water from them what would be the best way to transport the water?

I have a 40 gallon tank. What would be the recommended amount of water to get and to store at home?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Pistondog]

Get a rodi system. My 1st was from Amazon,
LiquaGen - 4 Stage Reverse Osmosis and Deionization (RO/DI) Portable Space Saver Water Purification System - 50 GPD | Water Filtration System for Aquarium Filter Processes | Fish Tank Filter

then got 1 from bulkreefsupply.com.

4 Stage Value Plus 75GPD RO/DI System

BRS 4 Stage Systems are perfect for reefers who have water treated with chlorine or relatively clean well water. The 4 stage systems are self-contained on a single bracket making them ideal for tight spaces or where a non-permanent connection may be required. Installing a RO/DI system only takes...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[ScottJ]

Defiantly go with an RODI unit now! It will be worth every penny. You don't have to spend a fortune, but get something decent. I just have an Aquaticlife RO Buddie, 50 gal a day, pretty inexpensive to buy. But I only need about 20 gal a week.

 

[glooper]

Defiantly go with an RODI unit now! It will be worth every penny. You don't have to spend a fortune, but get something decent. I just have an Aquaticlife RO Buddie, 50 gal a day, pretty inexpensive to buy. But I only need about 20 gal a week.

Is this the one you have? Also how often do you have to replace the cartridges?

 

[Pico bam]

Right off the bat I knew I would have a larger aquarium eventually so I picked up a used brs model, 6 stage dual di resins 150g per day. I replaced everything except the membranes. Its been smooth sailing. It came with two brute trash cans to hold the water. It was like 125$ used new this would have cost me 500+.

You can look threw your local CL/fb marketplace for one. Anything bulk reef supply brand is going to be decent but if it looks old I'd just stear clear of it.

Alot of people will use the brute trash cans for water storage one rodi and one for mixing salt. Some people like the ones with wheels for water changes. There cheap and do the job.

I don't have experience with the smaller units. double check that it has color changing DI resin as its very helpfull. Another good inexpensive tool that everybody should have is a tds tester there like 10 bucks. Doesn't have to be fancy.

 

[Pico bam]

Is this the one you have? Also how often do you have to replace the cartridges?

This ones good but like I said you'll need a tds tester. And you should have replacement di resin on hand.

 

[glooper]

This ones good but like I said you'll need a tds tester. And you should have replacement di resin on hand.

great, i will order this one plus the tds tester. and I should be okay with just using a 55 gallon brute container for storage?

 

[Pico bam]

great, i will order this one plus the tds tester. and I should be okay with just using a 55 gallon brute container for storage?

Yes just think threw the process of changing water and topping off the tank with freshwater. It will require multiple buckets/bins.

 

[glooper]

Yes just think threw the process of changing water and topping off the tank with freshwater. It will require multiple buckets/bins.

So It would probably be best to have 2 bins? 1 for saltwater and one for fresh RODI water?

 

[Spare time]

great, i will order this one plus the tds tester. and I should be okay with just using a 55 gallon brute container for storage?

Get an inline tds meter. Also consider making a flush bypass as this can save you DI resin

 

[Pico bam]

So It would probably be best to have 2 bins? 1 for saltwater and one for fresh RODI water?

Yea it makes things easy this is my current setup. I will be upgrading to some big poly tanks when my budget warrants it. Note the float switch and spigot to make things easy. Also avoids water overfill and puddle on the floor.

 

[Pico bam]

Get an inline tds meter. Also consider making a flush bypass as this can save you DI resin

These two things are what that system doesn't have good recommendations.

 

[workhz]

How do you get a good seal with a hole at the bottom of those brute containers? I’ve always worried about the curved cylinder and it leaking so just rely on pumps vs gravity.

 

[ScottJ]

Is this the one you have? Also how often do you have to replace the cartridges?

Yes, that's what I have. I replace the sediment and carbon every 6 months or so (probably could go longer) and the resin tells you when it's used up. Just get bulk resin and refill yourself. I'm going on 2 years on the membrane, and still getting 0 TDS
between the membrane and resin.

Be aware that the sediment and carbon cartridges are not standard, though. You have to use Aquaticlife's cartridges. The Membrane is standard though. And it's pretty slow making water, especially now when the incoming water is preyyy cold.

 

[workhz]

Also, best time to buy is when you’re initially filling tank. Pretty quick return on investment.

 

[PeterEde]

Saves trips to the LFS every time you need water

 

[Woodyman]

Lots of good advice already.

Continue to do your research including research on your source water. The best advice anyone can give you is to buy based off your source parameters, depending on the quality of your tap water you will need additional or less filtration.

This thread below can help provide you with further guidance for selecting the right unit for your needs.

RO/DI Basic Guide

There are always a lot of questions regarding which RO/DI setup do I need, how many stages, how do I know when to change filters/membranes, I’m getting a weird TDS value, etc. Hopefully this clarifies a few things and helps some of you out one day. My first recommendation would be to find the...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Pico bam]

How do you get a good seal with a hole at the bottom of those brute containers? I’ve always worried about the curved cylinder and it leaking so just rely on pumps vs gravity.

Just a standard bulk head i have a gasket on each end though. Never had a problem, the plastic just conforms to the shape of the bulk head.

 

[Spare time]

These two things are what that system doesn't have good recommendations.

The inline tds meter lets you know what is going in and out of the DI resin and is way more convenient. The bypass means that when the ro unit is being flushed and or first turned on, all of the high TDS water that exits when the rodi unit first turns on does not go to the DI resin and instead goes to the drain

 

[Woodyman]

The inline tds meter lets you know what is going in and out of the DI resin and is way more convenient. The bypass means that when the ro unit is being flushed and or first turned on, all of the high TDS water that exits when the rodi unit first turns on does not go to the DI resin and instead goes to the drain

You also want the flush for installing new carbon blocks. Carbon sediment/fines are a quick easy way to ruin/clog an RO membrane and reduce efficiency of your unit.